Commentary The Peace that is Fly-Fishing By Jesse Tolliver (January 20, 2003)

Imagine yourself standing in a cold, clear mountain trout stream. Usually there is no one else around and all you hear are the songs of the birds and the soft clicks and gurgles of the stream as it courses its way down the mountains.

Then, imagine yourself casting with a delicate rod, flinging an imitation insect in the air. As you cast your rod forward, your fly lands in a soft spot in the current. As it floats downstream lazily, like an insect caught on the water’s surface, a flash of scarlet and silver explodes on the fly. You then smile and raise the rod up to capture your prize. In your hand, you hold a little fish that looks like a watercolor. Bright oranges, reds, purples and blues are outlined with hues of white and olive. This is fly-fishing for trout.

Fly-fishing is considered a quiet sport, and it has drawn some famous people to it. President Herbert Hoover had a retreat, now in the Shenandoah National Park, on the Rapidan River and he would go there as many times as he could to escape the hardships of being president. Herbert Hoover once said, "All men are equal before fish." He meant that the fish don’t care who you are; even if you are the president of the Untied States. Everyone can enjoy the relaxing qualities of fly-fishing, no matter what social class they are part of. 

Hoover was always known to escape given the opportunity, and after a weekend of capturing the gorgeous little trout of the mountains, he would be ready to return to his stressful job. He would always say that the only concern you might have when fly-fishing is just that little fly in the water. It makes you forget your problems for a good while, and no matter the way you live, fly-fishing is one of the best ways to calm your nerves.

I sometimes have followed Herbert Hoover’s steps, and hiked up to his Rapidan River camp, which is still intact, but is only reserved for high government officials to use. At the location of his camp, two creeks form the Rapidan. Sometimes I like fishing up the right creek, called Mill Prong, which has a small waterfall, and lots of mossy rocks. The left creek, called Laurel Prong, is short, but full of long pools and lots of small trout. Sometimes I just fish in the river right next to Hoover’s camp and look around me and think that I wouldn’t mind being president if I could do this as often as Hoover did. 

Fly-Fishing has been a new discovery for me. I have only been involved in it for the past five years. I have, however, been fishing since I was five, just not with a fly rod. Usually, my trips are to the smallest streams I can find. These streams are characterized by lots of tiny pools that hold these little trout.

What is now Shenandoah National Park used to be inhabited by mountain settlers in the early part of the Twentieth Century. Of course, when the park was created, they all had to be driven off their land to give nature a chance to restore itself. This habitation left a lot of tiny walls next to the creeks, and whenever one fishes these little creeks they can look up and see evidence of people’s lives. Old roads, walls, and sometimes cabins are seen while fishing.

When you fish up there, you are taken to another place where things have slowed down to nature’s pace, where you don’t hear the loud sounds of the city, and where you can enjoy the scenery while forgetting your problems. This is fly-fishing at its best--wholesome, pure experience that fills you with joy, a truly peaceful experience that lets you unwind and just enjoy every aspect of what fly- fishing is: peace, quiet, and gorgeous scenery.